Window shade fixtures



Dec. 15, 1936. LA PENNA 2,064,016

WINDOW S HADE FIXTURE Filed May 2'7, 1935 2 Sheets-Sheet l FIGI I N VENTOR.

P07? .10 Pen/1a TTORNEYS.

Dec. 15, 1936. P LA PENNA 2,064,016

WINDOW SHADE FIXTURE Filed May 27, 1935 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

v 7 0/3] [0 Pen/1a Patented Dec. 15, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 7Claims.

The object of this invention is the provision of means whereby an upperand a lower shade may be supported upon a window casing in a manner topermit of the independent movement of either of the said shades, wherebyexterior light and air, under all conditions, may be properly directedinto or out of a room.

A further object is the provision of a bracket for the rollers at apoint approximately center of the window casing and whereby the shadesare wound upon the rollers through the employment of the usual springs,from which spring mechanism of the upper roller, however, there isremoved the usual self-locking dog usually provided to hold the shade inset position to prevent accidental turning of the roller, and in placeof which, there is employed a locking de vice positioned on a panelseparately apart from the roller and through which locking device passesthe usual shade actuating cord providing means for actuation of therollers in an easy and expeditious manner when the shades are to bewound or unwound.

A still further object is the provision of a panel to conceal the shadesand rollers, when they are in closed or wound position, from view fromthe room side looking out through the window.

A still further object is the provision of brackets which embody meansfor easily adjusting the effective length of the shade support and shadeconcealing panel.

Another object is to provide a shade bracket having means to carrycurtain or drapery rods in addition to shade roller supporting means.

Figure 1 is a front elevation of a window casing having shades thereonattached thereto in accordance with this invention.

Figure 2 is an end or side view of a shade roller with one of theremoved locking dogs shown dotted to indicate its former and usualposition.

Figure 3 is a perspective view of one of the supporting brackets in itsposition as seen when looking from the outside of a building into aroom.

Figure 4 is a sectional view taken along the line, AA of figure 3showing the bent out curtain or drapery rod carrying tongue.

Figure 5 is a perspective view of one embodiment of my invention whereinis disclosed a single shade roller carrying bracket having ourtain ordrapery rod carrying bracket means formed integral therewith and alsoshowing means for a side extension for the bracket for said curtain ordrapery rods so as to permit the use two separate roller shadespositioned adja- 10 cent one another transversely of the window andmidway the height thereof, one roller being drawn upwardly and the otherdownwardly to shade desired portions of the window. To prevent lightpassing through the space between the 15 two shade rollers, there isprovided a shield or panel which panel also provides for the concealingof the rolls. According to the present invention the two roller shadesare mounted as a unit on this supporting panel at the brackets, andmeans are provided for supporting or attaching the panel and itsbrackets to the window casing.

Referring now to the drawings: In Fig. 1 is shown the supporting panelIll, comprised of two end brackets II, and I2, which fit slideably intoa center piece l3. Preferably formed integral of the ends H and I2, asshown in Fig. 3, is a flange l4, bent rearwardly at right angles to theface I5, which has an eye I6, and a slot H,

formed in an indent formation 44, of the flange for supporting one ofthe ends of each of two roller shades I8. The slots may be formedrelatively horizontally on the flange as well as relatively verticallyas shown in Fig. 3. The pre-' ferred form of my invention is adapted tobe slotted holes H), the lower part of which permits 40 the head of ascrew or nail to pass therethrough. The upper part being smaller thanthe screwhead, is large enough for the neck of said screw. The screwsare already fastened in place to the window to receive the flangebracket. screw head is through the larger part of the slotted hole inthe flange, the flange is slid downwardly so that it is locked betweenthe screw head and the window.

There can also be provided and formed integral with the end bracket, atongue or tongues 20, providing attaching means for curtain or draperyrods directly thereto. If a side extending bracket for curtain rods bedesired, permit- After the ting the curtains to be hung thereon toconceal 55 the trim around the windows, it may be attached as at 2!, inFig. 5, or such extension may be formed integral with the bracket orcurtain rod.

The supporting panel i6, comprising the end brackets ii, and i2, and thecenter piece 53, has bent strengthening and stiffening flanges 22, atits upper and lower edges. The end pieces slide as a telescope, in tothe center piece to a limited extent, so as to vary the distance betweenthe attaching flanges i5, and allow for variation in the distancebetween the window frame uprights 33. In this manner the effectivelength of the supporting panel may be easily adjusted. It will beapparent that the panel ill will prevent the passage of light throughthe space 32, between the upper and lower shades i8, as well as act as afixed supporting means for the pair of shades.

In Figure 2 is shown an end view of a roller having the usual lockingdogs 36 removed. Such a roller spring mechanism is used on my uppershade. To operate same the shade is inserted in its place in the flangebrackets after the spring mechanism is given a few turns to supply theneeded spring tension. The cord attached to the shade is then directedup and over the pulley wheel 35, and thence down through the lockingdevice 36, with which it becomes engaged to be locked or unlocked asdesired. An ornamental cord end 3'! acts as a stop to limit the movementof the shade to its predetermined closed position. When the shade isreleased from the lock the spring influenced roller of the upper shadeholds the said shade taut under all conditions and draws it downwardlywhen the cord 38 is released from the lock. The lower shade, with itsdogs intact, is raised or lowered by a pull on the cord attached to theshade, which operation is believed well known to those skilled in theart to which such an invention relates.

The locking device 36 comprises a U shaped bracket 31, in which Ubracket a lever 38 is mounted on a fulcrum pin 39, fastened in the jawsof said bracket. The lever is actuated by means of a coil spring 40, soas to normally keep J the lever engaged with the cord 4|, thereunder,

when the cord is in stationary position. Disengaging the lever from thecord permits the cord to freely pass thereunder. Such disengagement forupward movement of the cord is accomplished by merely pressing the end32, of lever 38, which releases the cord and permits the shade to belowered and wind itself on its roller. Pulling the cord downward, so asto raise the shade is permissible with my locking device without 4separately pressing the lever, since such downward pull on the cordautomatically releases the lever from engagement with the cord, the pullbeing opposite to the direction of spring force against the lever,permitting the cord to pass freely thereunder in a downward direction.The locking device is preferably mounted centrally on the panel bysuitable fastening means.

In Fig. 5 is shown a bracket MA, to act as a fixed supporting means fora single shade roller and to also serve as a curtain rod holder by meansof a suitable bent out tongue 20A, formed integral of the bracket. Sucha structure is desirable for mounting at the top of a window and mayprovide supporting means for more than one shade roller when necessary,as for instance, when a black shade as well as a light colored one isneeded to at times prevent the entry or exit of light, by having twoslots II, preferably formed integral of the bracket on the samehorizontal line. Of course the shade roller used herein is the usualtype with the dogs intact.

It is readily seen that such a structure provides means for a meresingle fastening of one bracket to the window. Formerly there wasrequired the separate fastening of the shade brackets and curtainbrackets. Likewise my brackets are removably fastenable, as alreadystated, and provide shade concealing means.

As many apparently widely different embodiments of the invention couldbe devised without departing from the scope thereof, it is intended thatall matter contained in the above description or shown in theaccompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in alimiting sense.

I claim:--

1. In combination, an adjustable light shield panel bracket forsupporting and concealing a plurality of window shade rollers, a springactuated releasable cord lock on said panel, a cord means connecting oneof said shades with said lock whereby on disengagement of the cord bythe lock the shade cooperatively normally automatically revolvesunobstruotedly in shade rolling direction.

2. In combination, a light shield adjustable panel bracket forsupporting and concealing a plurality of window shades; a springactuated releasable cord lock on said panel; a cord means connecting oneof said shades by said lock; said lock normally automatically arrestingshade rolling movement of said cord, cooperatively actu ated by saidshade, and allowing manually actuated shade unrolling movement of saidcord.

3. In combination, a light shield adjustable panel bracket forsupporting and concealing a plurality of window shades; one of saidshades adapted to normally freely revolve in shade rolling direction; aspring actuated releasable cord lock on said panel; a cord meansconnecting said shade with said lock; said lock normally automaticallycooperatively arresting shade rolling movement of said cord, normallyactuated cooperatively by said shade, and allowing manually actuatedshade unrolling movement of said cord.

4. The combination of cooperative means for supporting, concealing andoperating a plurality of window shades comprising: a light shieldadjustable panel bracket shade support; a spring actuated releasablecord lock on said panel; a cord means connecting one of said shades bysaid lock; said shade adapted to normally freely revolve in shaderolling direction; said lock normally automatically cooperativelyarresting shade rolling movement of said cord and shade, normallyactuated cooperatively by said shade, and allowing manually actuatedshade unrolling movement of said cord and shade.

5. The combination of cooperative means for supporting, and concealing aplurality of window shades comprising: a light shield adjustable panelbracket shade support; a spring actuated releasable cord lock on saidpanel; a cord means connecting one of said shades by said lock; saidshade adapted to normally freely revolve in shade rolling direction;said lock normally automatically cooperatively arresting shade rollingmovement of said cord and shade, normally actuated cooperatively by saidshade, and allowing manually actuated shade unrolling movement of saidcord and shade; said shade support comprising a center panel and a pairof brackets having integral end means for supporting the shades and forremovably mounting the brackets with a window casing.

6. In a window shade device mountable on a window frame, a combinedadjustable light shield and bracket forming a panel for supporting andconcealing a plurality of spring rollers, one of said rollers beingwithout pawls, each of said rollers being provided with a shade Windablethereon, a spring actuated releasable cord lock on said panel, a cordmeans connecting the shade on the pawlless roller with said lock wherebysaid lock normally automatically cooperatively arrests shade rollingmovement of said cord normally actuated cooperatively by said roller andallows manually actuated shade unrolling movement of said cord.

7. In a window shade device mountable on a on the pawlless roller withsaid lock whereby 10 said lock normally automatically cooperativelyarrests shade rolling movement of said cord, normally actuatedcooperatively by said roller, and allows manually actuated shadeunrolling movement of said cord.

PATSY LA PENNA.

